Eight Limbs of Yoga Deep Dive

I am not a scholar. I am a student, just like you.

And in my quest to develop a deeper understanding of yoga’s ancient roots, I’m taking on a weekly deep dive into one aspect of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, as set forth in The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali.

I welcome your insights and comments on this journey as we explore, together, this ancient yoga text.

The Yoga Sutras are the Yogic Science of the Mind (compared to Ayurveda, the Yogic Science of the Body). So these prescriptions from Patanjali are there not to make us “better” or “nicer” but to bring our minds into harmony with all that surrounds us.

If you’re looking for The 2024 Mindfulness Series (“The Power of…” posts), visit the Mindfulness Series page.

The Yamas : Ahimsa

The first of the Yamas sounds simple. It’s usually translated, “Do No Harm” or “Cause No Pain.” Easy, right? Don’t punch anybody in the face. Don’t be rude to waiters. Be “nice.”

Read “The Yamas : Ahimsa”

The Yamas : Satya

If I am dishonest, my mind knows I am being dishonest. However subtle or “harmless,” the mind knows it’s lying, and that knowing creates an obstacle.

 Read “The Yamas : Satya”

The Yamas : Asteya

“Nonstealing.” Easy, right? Super easy to not shoplift. No big deal to avoid picking someone’s pocket or snatching their purse.

 Read “The Yamas : Asteya”

The Yamas : Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya means “continence” or “moderation.” It’s clear that Patañjali is referring to sexual abstinence, at least in large part, but it’s also about moderation in all things. Specifically, it’s about […]

 Read “The Yamas : Brahmacharya”

The Yamas : Aparigraha

The fifth (and final) of the five Yamas is Aparigraha, which can be translated as “non-greed” or “non-grasping.” I had never considered before that grasping non-material things — like my […]

Read “The Yamas : Aparigraha”

The Niyamas : Saucha

So Saucha, Purity, is about how you regard and purify (and keep pure) your body. But it’s about more than that. We all think of the same “pure” imagery, I’m sure: virginity, doves, driven snow.

 Read “The Niyamas : Saucha”